Should I have it now or later??? I need your opinion on this guys...
By Ricko82
@Ricko82 (584)
Philippines
July 13, 2007 3:19am CST
I have this heart condition called Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), it's basically a hole in the heart that only open heart surgery can fix the problem. However, open heart surgery will leave me a nasty 6 inches scar on my chest area. Although I could opt to go for a much costly procedure called cardiac catheterization that could save me from the ugly scaring, but it's way too expensive for my parents. My cardiologist said that I should have the surgery ASAP to avoid future complications. But I said to myself that I'm gonna hold on till I really, really need it because who knows after I got the surgery I would meet an accident and die. There goes my parents 450,000 (US$9,780). I feel like I can still go for another year or two without surgical intervention, although if my cardiologist were to decide, she would have me on that OR table ASAP.
Do you think I should have the surgery now or wait till my body really, really demands it?
Please share your brilliant thoghts on this guys... Thanks...
Keep safety ya all!_
2 people like this
5 responses
@jjhon1224 (26)
• United States
13 Jul 07
I understand your point of view on waiting. However, I would advise you to listen to your doctor and have the surgery sooner rather than later. Here is why. You feel like you can still go on for another year or two. Which means that you feel strong now, but maybe won't feel as strong in a year or two. Then you decide to have open heart surgery. I am sure that with any kind of major surgery like this, there are considerable risks. And if God forbid you run into any complications, you will want to be strong enough to beat those complications. It would be a shame if you were less than 100% in your journey back to health after surgery because you waited until you were not as strong. If your parents' financial situation enables you to have the surgery now, I would say, please do it. All the best of luck to you, and I hope you will be healthy and well soon!
2 people like this
@Ricko82 (584)
• Philippines
14 Jul 07
Thank you for your advice... Point well taken. It's just I dont feel anything wrong with me right now. Only the Ecocardiographer can tell. But yeah, you're right. I need to be strong if I am to survive that procedure. Thank you so much for the advice. I never really look at it that way before, but you handed it to me. I'll rethink my options seriously now...
Keep safety!_
1 person likes this
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
14 Jul 07
Ricko...I want to share this with you....I have 2 grnddaughters...the oldest one is almost 8 years old...she as born with ASD...when she was 2 years old she had the same surgery that the physicians are recommending that you have....it saved her life...she is now a happy healthy little girl who is able to run and play; scream and holler; and be like every other girl she knows....
I also spent 10 years of my life as a nurse..I have been in many operating rooms during surgeries....I know that the process is scary....and yes, a machine will keep your body going while this procedure is being performed....BUT the fact is that heart surgery and especially ASD is a common surgery....most surgeon are experts at this procedure because it is required so much...
To wait until your body really really needs it means that you have allowed your body to reach such a drastic state that healing and recovery will place a greater burden on your heart....the very tissue that they will be performing surgery on...now think about this....weakening your heart until it is barely able to function properly....then force your heart to go through being manually fixed..then ask your heart in it's weakened condition to rebound and keep you alive and healthy ALL because you wanted to avoid a 6" scar....
I hope that this makes sense to you, my new friend....what you are considering is not rational...it is unsafe and every day that you put this off you are placing yourself at greater risk....I hope that you will spend some time thinking about what I have said here....
OK, You asked for it and I have given you my best advice....all of my brilliant thoughts on this subject....and since you do not know me yet....I want to share with you that I lost my Mother 13 days ago...she had a massive heart attack without any warning...without any symptoms or history of heart problems...I am telling you this because this response was extrememly difficult fot me BUT if it can help you to make a decision that will save your life...the pain it caused me at this moment will have been worth it....
Tina
1 person likes this
